184 Mr. Webster 071 the Strata lying over the Chalk. 



fruits and branches still to be observed in it. It sometimes 

 splits into irregular layers in the direction of the bed, and 

 the cross fracture is dull and earthy. It burns with difficulty, 

 and with very little flame, giving out a sulphureous smell. 

 V, Yellow and white sand, with crimson and grey stripes. 

 w, Five beds of coal similar to that above-mentioned, each a 



foot thick. 

 X, Whitish sand and brownish pipe clay. 

 y, Whitish sand with stripes of deep yellow. 

 z. Several layers of large water-worn black flint pebbles, im- 

 bedded in deep yellow sand. 

 B, A stratum of blackish clay, with much green earth and sep- 

 taria. In this green earth are a prodigious number of fossil 

 shells, but in a very fragile state. They correspond exactly 

 with those of Stubbington and Hordwell. 

 A stream of water from the adjoining hill has worn a deep 

 channel through the stratum, and afibrds a path down to the bay. 



To the north of this, the strata C consist of yellowish sand ; and 

 it is not easy to see what is really the position of those beds w^hich 

 lie immediately next to the blue clay, but they appear to dip about 

 45° to the north ; and the sand D lying on them is nearly hori- 

 zontal. 



The north side of Alum bay is bounded by a hill called Headen, 

 about 400 feet high, considerably loftier than the vertical cliffs, 

 and composed of the same part of that series of horizontal strata 

 of which the north side of the island consists. In this hill only 

 do we distinctly see the alternation, I have mentioned of marine 

 and fresh water deposits. It is in a state of constant ruin, and by 

 its section affords lofty vertical cliffs, where its strata may be ex- 

 amined with the utmost facility. 



